{% include "includes/auth/janrain/signIn_traditional.html" with message='It looks like you are already verified. If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.' %}

breaking news

Stanton sheds mask for final at bat, Yelich on bad back, more Marlins news

Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton doubles in two runs in the eighth inning Tuesday against the Braves in his first at bat this season without his protective mask.

ATLANTA _ Giancarlo Stanton had a new look when he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning Tuesday to face left-hander, and familiar face, Andrew McKirahan.

For the first time Stanton was not wearing the face mask that had become customary all spring and so far in the regular season. He celebrated that freedom with a two-run double, marking the fifth time he reached base (three hits, two walks) in Miami’s 8-2 victory over the Braves. The RBIs boosted his total to four for the game, one more than he drove home the first seven games.

“Fine,” Stanton said when asked how it felt. “Just like my whole career prior. It was good.”

But Stanton said don’t get used to the clean look. The only reason he didn’t wear the mask was because he was facing a left hander.

When Stanton was asked if he’d continue to wear the protection against righties, he said, “I’ll wear it against righties for the most part, most likely.”

Then he was asked if would wear it today with Braves lefty Eric Stults on the mound. “Honestly, it’s whatever I feel like doing.”

So in other words, that’s a definite maybe.

Stanton was hit in the face last Sept. 11 by a pitch from Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers, suffering several fractured bones and broken teeth. He had worn the mask every at bat in Grapefruit League play and the regular season. That included two plate appearances against lefties during the season.

Stanton entered Tuesday’s game hitting .130. He singled in runs in the first and fourth innings and walked in the third and seventh before facing McKirahan, who was in spring training with the Marlins, in the eighth. At the end of the night he boosted his average 101 points to .231.

“It’s confidence for him,” manager Mike Redmond said. “I think that’s probably a big step. He swung the bat well. His at-bats were good. It’s nice to see him have a couple good at-bats and have a nice night.”

Yelich nursing sore back

Christian Yelich was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup about three hours before the first pitch with tightness in his back.

“It kind of hasn’t been feeling good for the last few days,” Yelich said after the game. “I kind of tried to play through it and it was making it worse.

“Give it a day or two and hopefully I’ll be back at it.”

Yelich would not rule out playing today but don’t expect him to be in the lineup until sometime this weekend in New York.

Capps makes an adjustment

Marlins GM Dan Jennings said right-handed reliever Carter Capps made a slight adjustment after he was called for two balks on his first two pitches of the season while with Class AAA New Orleans.

Capps, who was recalled Monday and pitched a scoreless – balk-less inning – that night against the Braves, leaps off the mound on his delivery with his right (back) foot coming off the rubber and before his front foot lands on the ground. Recently, he was leaping even higher into the air than usual which meant he was landing closer to the plate, a huge advantage, especially for someone who throws 100 mph.

The Marlins spoke with MLB officials to get a clarification on Capps delivery and it was slightly tweaked.

“It wasn’t the disengaging with the rubber it was the second contact with the ground,” which was the issue, Jennings said.